Mothers and daughters

Joëlle Anthony’s story of a girl reconnecting with her absentee mom rings true

MIDDLE-GRADE FICTION

A Month of Mondays

Joëlle Anthony

Second Story Press, Ages 9-13

SUZE TAMAKI is a Grade 7 slacker whose wry observations about school and the world around her make her both loveable and relatable. Any tween reader will be able to identify with Suze’s fears that she is the “backup” friend in her social group, and her description of her friends’ “boyfriends” is sure to elicit a smile.

When an insightful teacher recognizes Suze’s academic potential and moves her to an honours English class, Suze suddenly finds herself caring about doing well and not letting anyone down, least of all herself. Then her long-absent mother reappears out of the blue, making her life infinitely more complicated.